Method of and apparatus for separating ores and the like.



A. B. EMERY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 1911. RENEWED JUNE 3. l9i8.

Patented J uly 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I.

' NVENTOR I ATTORNEYS A. B. EMERY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. 19H. RENEWED JUNE 3.191s.

1,272,643. Patented July 16, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR 2 ATTORNEYS A. B. EMERY.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATING ORES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1911. RENEWED JUNE 3.1918.

1 72,643. Patented July 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES: WM QJA INVENTOR U M g 7 ATTORNEYS STATE FATENT QFFKQE,

AUGUSTUS B. EMERY, OF MESSINA, NORTH TRANSVAAL, SOUTH AFRICA.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SEPARATIN G ORES AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 16, 1918.

Application filed March 29, 1911, Serial No. 617,624. Renewed June 3, 1918. Serial No. 238,015.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS B. EMERY,

the United States filed by me of even date tomary in the art.

herewith, Ser. No. 617,623, I have described and claimed certain improvements in the separation of ores and like materials without. the preliminary close screen-sizing and without the preliminary classification of the particles which has heretofore been cus- In my said application the material to be separated is subjected to the lifting and classifying action of a rising body of fluid and to a motion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of fluid, the table or deck upon which the separation takes place being somewhat inclined, and receiving a reciprocating motion. The invention, as described inmy said application is particularly adapted to the separation of the mineral portion of ores from the waste but is applicable generally to the separation of the various constituents of other granular mixtures than ores. such, for instance, as slate from coal, etc.

My present invention, in some of its as pects, embodies the generic or fundamental features described and claimed in my said co-pending application, but relates specifically to a construction wherein the rising body of fluid for subjecting the material to the lifting and classifying action is a body of water. It presents a wet machine wherein the two operations of classification and concentration are performed upon the same reciprocating inclined deck or table. The table therefore requires no screen-sizing of the material (except between very wide limits) and no preliminary classification of the material, as will hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawin s:

Figure 1 represents a top p an View of apparatus embodying my invention;

' Fig. 2 represents a front elevation thereof;

Fig, 3 represents a sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 represents a section taken on a plane indicated by the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 represents, on a somewhat larger scale a portion of the table or deck of the apparatus with its screen top and classifying pockets removed;

Fig. 6 represents, in perspective, a portion of the top screen and pockets of the apparatus;

Fig. 7 represents, in perspective, one of the partitions forming the classifying pock ets;

Fig. 8 represents in section, the universal oint connection between the table top or deck and the reciprocating rod forming a part of the head motion mechanism of the apparatus;

Fig. 9 represents, partly in section, one of the axially and vertically adjustable notched bases for supporting the rocker arms of the apparatus.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the table, which is of general triangular shape, is supported at two of its three angles by means of rockers, whose specific construction is illustrated more fully in Figs. 4 and 9. One of these rockers is mounted upon the pedestal a at or near one end of the longest side of the table and the other is mounted upon a pedestal 7) at the opposite end of the same side. The intermediate corner is supported by a. universal joint mounted upon the pedestal c.

The table proper, or table deck is provided on its upper surface with a series of bars, one form or modification of which is shown in detail in Figs. 6 and 7. These bars. designated by the letter 8, are of general wedge shape, in the sense that they increase in width from the feed side X Z of the table toward theconcentrates discharge side X Y of the table. consequently, they form a series of wedge shaped pockets which diminish correspondingly from the feed side to the concentrates-discharge side of the table. They are preferably covered with a single sheet of rubber 6 upon their; upper surface so as to increase .their friction and to enhance their concentrating effeet. as will hereinafter more fully appear. Beyond the pockets, the table deck is provided with an outlying border, operating as a concentrating surface, but which may be suppressed when the apparatus is to be used wholly as a classifier.

Beneath the pocket bars 6 and forming a pervious bottom for the pockets, extends the wire screen f, which is suitably attached to the longitudinal members of the deck and which is likewise attached to the subjacent bars 9, of a general shape and contour corresponding to that of the pocket bars e, as indicated more fully'in Fig. 51 The bars 1 are supported upon the cross-ribs h, and these in turn rest upon cleats i secured to the longitudinal members of the table. In addition to the cross-ribs it there is provided a cross-rib m of somewhat larger dimensions for the secure attachment of the universal joint forming the connection of the table with the head motion mechanism (see Fig. 8).

The space beneath the fine screen f is divided off into a series of compartments by suitably extending individual members of the subjacent bars 9, as indicated in Fi 5. The several compartments thus establis ed are put into communication by means of pipes 2 with a main 8 receiving a supply of water under pressure through the flexible hose pipe 8, and the pipes a are each provided with a cutoff cock 2' so as to appropriately regulate the flow of water to the individual water pressure compartments. The arrangement is, therefore, such that a rising body of water under pressure is directed up through the pervious bottoms of the several pockets e betweenthe pocket bars 6.

The several pocket forming bars are all of the same height at their extreme ends along the side X Y of the table deck and increase in height uniformly toward the feed end of the table deck. This gradual increase in height is so chosen that the depth of the shortest and uppermost pockets in the series shall he, say 5% of an inch at the end proximate to the concentrates-discharge side X Y of the table and of an inch at the end proximate to the feed side X Z of the table; whereas the longest pocket (i. e., the pocket proximate to the side Z Y) will have say, a depth of ofan inch at its conccntrates-discharge end and a depth of L} inches at its feed end. So also, the Width of the several pockets will gradually increase,

at the feed end thereof, from the top to the bottom of the series, the width at the feed end of the shortest pocket being say of an inch. and of the longest pocket 2 inches. At the discharge end of the several pockets they are preferably of about Q; of an inch in width so that the material will not jam therein.

As indicated fully in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the table is set at an incline, which incline is adjustable in pitch and direction by means of the corner supports at three angles of the table.

Motion is imparted to the table, in any suitable manner, as, for instance, by the head mot-ion mechanism shown, which is of a type well known in the art and which is selected merely as illustrative of others which act upon the same principle of operation, 2'. 6., of imparting to the connecting rod a movement which, at the beginning of the forward stroke will be relatively slow and which will be rapidly accelerated at the termination of the forward stroke, likewise rapidly accelerated at the beginning of the returnstroke and which will slow down at the termination of the return stroke. There are many of these so called head motion mechanisms familiar to the art, the particular one chosen for illustration being the Wellknown Deister head motion. Its main elements consist of a reciprocating rod k which, in this instance, is attached by a universal joint Z at one end, to a cross piece m of the table'deck.

The rod L is screw threaded, as shown in Fig. 1, and carries an adjustable nut n, het-ween which nut and the free collar 1 reacts a spring S, thereby putting the rod under tension. The rod passes through a slotted abutment and terminates in a yoke 2) which engages one arm a of a rocking lever, pivoted at v, and whose other arm o is rocked by a cam upon the motor shaft w. I have not considered it necessary to fully illustrate this well known Deister head motion mechanism, as its construction and its mode of operation are familiar to those versed in the art.

The length of stroke of the mechanism may be varied by means of the adjusting screw a engaging a nut on cross piece '0 which spans the yoke '22 and which may, through the intermediacy of the screw be raised or lowered within the slotted arm 1). The function of the head motion is to im part an abrupt forward jerk or bump to the table deck, so that the concentrates will be caused to move progressively toward the concentrates-discharge side of the table deck.

The ultimate motion imparted to the table, however, is likewise dependent upon the adjustment of the rocker arms upon the pedestals a 7) and the universal joint upon the pedestal c. The rocker arms 3 are connected to the table deckat their upper ends by ball and socket joints. as shown, and consist of forked or yoked supports having knife edges which are adapted to engage with the notches in the arc-shaped support y, so that they may be set at various angles to the perpendicular. and independently of each other. They are also capable of axial adjustment to any desired angle through the instrumentalitv of the screw bolt ;I which engages a screw socket immediately above the rib 3 so that, by loosening the screw bolt, the yoke 3 may be rotated and thereafter fixed 1n the desired adjustment by again tightening up the bolt g So also, the arc-shaped supports y of the rocker arms may be ad usted vertically (raised or lowered) by means of the wedges 3/ which engage grooves in the upper and lower surface of the said supports and which are mounted upon a right' and left hand screw thread of a rod y having an operating hand wheel y. By rotating the hand wheelin one direction, the wedges y will be caused to approach each other, thereby raising the arc-shaped supports y and consequently raising the corresponding corner of the table, and, by rotating the hand wheel 3 in the opposite direction the wedges 3 will be caused to recede from each other and will lower the arc-shaped supports 1 and the corresponding corner of the table correspondingly. p

In like manner, the intermediate corner of the table above the pedestal 0 may be raised or lowered by means of the screw m engaging the screw-threaded aperture in the pedestal 0 and adapted to be turned by the hand wheel w and to be set in the position chosen, by means of a lock nut operated by the hand wheel 00 The link x is provided at both its upper and lower ends with a ball and socket joint so as to give absolute freedom of motion at the corresponding corner, as determined by the relative position of adjustment of the rocker arms on the pedestals a b. It will, of course, be evident that by rotating axially, from a position of parallelism to each other, to one of non-parallelism, as indicated, for instance, by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the table deck can be given a double motion, in the sense that the different corners of the table move in such case in different the tabie is arranged the wash water box B supported on suitable brackets. This wash water box receives a supply of freshwater from any suitable source as, for instance, from the supply pipe u and -is provided with a series of discharge openings t for distributing the water in appropriate streams upon the upper surface of the deck or table,

The mode of operation of the table is as follows:

The ore or like material is fed in any suitable manner to the upper surface of the table deck at or near the feed corner X thereof and is immediately subjected to the action of the upwardly risin body of water issuing through the pervious bottom and to the reciprocating motion of the table deck which tends to move the ore across the sureration of the head movement. So also, the

material is subjected to the action of the flow of wash water which tends constantly to washback the coarse silica or quartz in ore mixtures containing silica or quartz as one of their constituents. The continuation of the feed results in the gradual filling up of the Wedge shaped pockets-from one to another in series. The upwardly rising body of water lifts and classifies the ore in the pockets, the lighter material rising to the surface of the mass and working over the edge of the first pocket into the next pocket. assisted by the flow of water from the wash Water box. The remaining material is driven along the pocket until the decreasing area of the cross-section of the pocket forces the classified material out and over the top of the pocket at the extreme end thereof.

The material which is forced out of the pocket passes on to the plain surface of the .table where there is no upwardly rising body of water but where there is maintained the flow of wash water. 'Upon this surface, concentration is effected.

The motionof the table drives the fine material on the concentrating surfaces along in the direction of the concentrates-discharge' side X Y, while the coarser material, owing to the slope given to the table and to the effect of the wash water, tends to work down across the plain surfaces of the bars 6 lying between the pockets until it reaches the next pocket of the series. The final result is that the fine portion of the material moves over the plain surface of the table until it is finally discharged along the edge X Y, while the coarse portion travels across the table and. is discharged along the edge Y Z or tailings discharge edge.

As in my pending application herein'before referred to, so also in the present case, the plain or concentrating surface of the table upon which the material is separated after it has been classified in the pockets, constantly increases in aggregate area from the feed side of the discharge side of the table deck until finally it reaches a clear concentrating space beyond the points of the pockets. On this smooth surface, the final separation is completed.

It Will be apparent that the motion of the table at the various parts thereof will, as has hereinbefore been indicated, be afi'ected according to the angle at which the rocker arms supporting the corners X and Y are set with relation to the horizontal, this ad justment giving an upward and forward motion and a return backward and downward motion, the ivord forward being used in the sense of direction toward thev corner Y. This motion tends to lift the material and move it over' the surface of the table at a greater speed than it would'ha-ve.

if the rocker arms were perpendicular.

The various motions which the table can have in a horizontal plane, in addition to those due to lows: I If the rockers at the corners X and Y are the head motion, are as folset parallel to each other and at right angles to the direction of the reciprocating rod is,

the motion of the table will be in linewith the reciprocating motion of the rod. If, now, the rocker arm at either one of the corners or Y (say, for example, Y) is twisted about it center and placed horizontally ,at a slight angle to the axis of the rocker arm at X,-the two corners X and Y of the table will have different motions horizontally. The motion at each corner will be at right angles to the axis of the rocker arm,

but they will make a slight angle with each other. The effect ofthis difierencein hori-- zontal motion of the table top is to carry the ore or material on the top in one direction at corner X and in aslightly different-- direction at corner Y. Bysuitable adjustment, it istherefore possible to change the line of discharge of the concentratesalong the edge of the table, so as to discharge the concentrates either farther up or farther down the edge X Y of the table, asmay be most suitable to the material being treated.

The ,ball and socket support at'the corner Z permits this corner tof'take on any motion necessary low the rockers X and Z. I

It will be seen therefore, that the table is capable of the following adjustments which 1. The length of stroke of the head motion can be increased or diminished.

' 2. The angle which each rocker arm makes to the perpendicular can be changed so as to give the table either'a reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane or an upwardand forward and backward and downward motion, that is,'to say, motion in the arc of a vert1-,

' cal circle. These motions may be given to i the table as a. whole, or the two ends :0 and i 3 may have different motions, one, say/in, a; horizontal plane, and the other in a planeinclined to, the horizontal according to the.

7 angle at which the respective rockers are set With relation to the horizontal.

' 3. The pedestal or base upon which the rocker arms work can be revolved in a hori: zontalplane so as to change the direction to allow the table top to fol emmas.

of the motion which the table either one or both of the corners X or Y, the result being to give the table top a series of difi'erent-horizontal motions at various portions 'of' its surface, or a horizontal motion not parallel to the longitudinal direction of the pockets. I

4; In addition to these adjustments, the three supports of the table-can be adjusted in height, independently of each other. H

In some instances, the apparatus can be used as a classifier table by omitting the clear concentrating space beyond the points of the pockets-and leaving the points of the pockets open so as to allow the classified ma'-. terial to readily discharge out of the pockets upon reaching the discharge ends thereof anlgl1 without traveling the full length of the ta e.

Instead of making the pervious bottom of wire screen, as hereinbefore described, it maybe made of any equivalent material, as, for instance, of coarse canvas, of such strength and mesh as will subserve the purpose, and, in fact, when made of wire screen,

the screen should be chosen of such mesh as to closely approximate coarse-canvas.

What-I claim is:.

1. The method of separating ores and the like, which consists in lifting and classifying the same by the v action of a rising body of water and further subjecting the classified materialto aconcentrating action lby the combined effect of a washing body of wateromoving over it in one direction and of a force tending to mov'e'it in another direct on upon a frictional surface and-causing the different components of the material to spread fan-wise in bands; substantially as described. i

2. The method of separating ores and the -:like, which consists in lifting'and classifying the same. by the action of 'a rising body of. water, and concentrating the classified material by subjectin itlto ajjerking motion 0 upon a frictionalsur ace and'simultaneously to'a flow of water across said surface and causing the different components of the material to spread fan-Wise in bands; substan- -tially as described. 115

3. In the separation of ores and the like, the method of-classifyin which consists in lifting and classifying t e same by the action of a rising-body of water, while at the same time moving the lower stratum of the 120 vi' naterial undergoing classification in one direction, by subjecting it to a jerking motion upon a friotionali surface, and floating 01f in another direction portions .of the upper stratumQwhile causing the difi'erent compo- 125 .nents' of the material to spread fanwise in bands; substantially as described.

41., A separator for ores and the like,, .pro

vided with-an inclined deck 'having'a per:

vious bottom, means for causing a5 body of 60 and means for imparting to the deck a mowater to rise through pervious bottom, means for feeding the material at the upper end of the incline and means for im parting to the deck a motion tending to cause the particles to travel acrossthe rising body of water; the slant of the deck being toward the discharge of both the heads and the tailings; substantially as described.

5. in a separator for ores and like material, an inclined deck having a pervious bottom, means for causing a bodyof water to rise through the pervious bottom, means for feeding the material at the upper end of the incline, means for imparting to the deck a motion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of water. and supplemental means for supplying to the top of the deck a washing down flow of water in addition to that which rises through the pervious bottom; substantially as described.

6. .blL-SBPHI'MZO! for ores and like material, consisting. of a deck, having classifying pockets, and having concentrating surfaces, means for subjecting the material in the pockets to the lifting and classifying action of a rising body of water, means for feeding the material near one end of the series of classifying pockets and means for imparting to the deck a motion tending to cause the particles totravcl across the rising body of water; the slant of the deck being toward the discharge of both the heads and the tailings; substantially as described.

7. A separator for ores and the like, provided with an. inclined deck having classifying pockets, means for subjecting the material in the pockets to'the lifting and classifying action of a rising body vof Water, means for imparting to the deck a reciprocating motion in line with the longitudinal axes of the-pockets and means for feeding material to the pocketstransversely of their longitudinal axe substantially as described. 8. A separator for ores and like material, consisting'of a rigid deck, having classifying pockets, and having concentrating surfaces intermediate of the pockets, means for subjecting the material in the pockets to the lifting and concentrating action of a rising body of water, and means for imparting to the deck a motion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of water; substantially as described.

9. A separator for ores and like material, consisting of a rigid deck, having'classifying pockets, and having outlying concentratmg'surfaces' constituting a border beyond the pockets means for subjecting. the material in the pockets to the lifting and classifying action of a rising body of water tion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of water;- substantially as described. v

10. A separator for ores and like material,

tially as described.

ii. A separator for ores and like material, consisting of a deck, having class pockets decreasing in width from their ends to their discharge ends, and having con ccntrating surfaces, means for subjecting the material in the pockets to the lifting and classifying action of a rising body of water and means for imparting to the deck a mo tion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of Water; substantially as described.

12. A separator for ores and like material, consisting of a deck, having classifying pockets decreasing in width" from their feed ends to their discharge ends and having intermediateconcentrating surfaces increasing in width from their feed ends to their discharge ends, means for subjecting the material in the pockets to the lifting and classifying action of a rising body of water and means for imparting to the deck a motion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of water; substantially as described.

13. A separator for ores and like material, consisting of a deck, having classifying pockets and having intermediate concentrating surfaces, the classifying pockets increas ing in length in the series, means for-subjecting the material in the pockets to the lifting and classifying action of a rising body of water-and means for imparting t0 "the deck a motion tending to cause the particles to travel across the rising body of water; substantially as described.

14. A separator for ores and the like, having an inclined rigid deck provided with a series of pockets having pervious bottoms and having intervening concentrating spaces between the pockets, means for producing an upward flow of water through thepervious bottoms, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the deck; substantially as described.

15. A separator for ores and the like, having an inclined deck provided with a series of pockets having pervious bottoms and having intervening concentratlng spaces between the pockets, the width of the indi-" vidual pockets diminishing from the feed, side to the concentrates-discharge side of the table, means for producing an upward flow of water through the pervious bottoms, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the deck; substantially as described.

16. A separator for ores and the like, having an inclined deck provided with a series of pockets having pervious bottoms and having intervening concentrating spaces between the pockets, the width-of the individual pockets diminishing and the width of the intervening individual concentrating spaces increasing from the feed side to the concentrates-dischargeside of the table, means for producing an upward fiOW of water through the pervious bottoms, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the deck;-substantially as described.

17. A separator for ores and the like, having an inclined deck provided with a series of pockets having pervious bottoms and having intervening concentrating spaces between the pockets, successive pockets increasing in length toward the tailings-discharge side of the table and increasing in width along the feed side of the table, means for producing an upward fiow of water through the pervious bottoms and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the deck; substantially as described.

18. A separator for ores and the like, having an inclined deck provided with a series of pockets having pervious bottoms and having intervening concentrating spaces be-" tween the pockets, successive pockets increasing inlength toward the tailings-discharge side of the table and increasing in wvidth along the feed side of the table and increasing in height along the feed side of the table, means for producing an upward flow of water through the pervious bottoms, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the deck; substantially as described.

19. A separator for ores and the like, provided with an inclined rigid deck having a series of classifying pockets, alternating with a series of concentrating spaces, said concentrating spaces having plane surfaces designed to receive the discharge from the pockets, means for producing an upward flow of water through the pockets, and means for imparting'a reciprocating motion to the deck; substantiallyas described.

20. A separator for ores and the like, provided with an inclined triangular deck having a series of classifying'pockets, means vided with an inclined deck having a series I of classifying pockets, means for producing an upward flow of water through the pockets, and means for imparting a reciprocating motion to the deck in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the pockets, said pockets being smaller at one end than at the other, the smaller ends of the several pockets being arranged to terminate beyond those preceding them in the series, said deck being provided with concentrating spaces'between the pockets and v being provided with a further concentrating space lying beyond the extreme ends of the pockets; substantially as described.

"In testimony whereof I afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

. AUGUSTUS B. EMERY. VVit-nesses:

JOHN C. RENNIE, WJLIJAM H. DAVIS. 

